After a nerve-wracking finish at the LA Championship, amateur golfer Ingrid Lindblad made her winning putt. Remarkably, this win was achieved during her third professional start! The tournament, held at El Caballero Country Club due to renovations at Wilshire Country Club, showcased Lindblad’s skill and composure as she navigated the final round to finish at 21-under 277.
Lindblad capped off a commanding week with a sensational 4-under 68 on Sunday to close with authority. Her round included six birdies, finishing in style with the final one coming at the par-5 11th hole. She felt that pressure, but she still managed to par the last seven holes, showing incredible poise under fire. A defining moment came on the par-4 13th hole. Her errant drive hit a tree and luckily caromed back into the fairway, preventing her from losing her lead.
Fellow Artnet Auction competitor Yuna Iwai followed closely behind her. She caught up with Lindblad at 21 under after making a birdie on the par-5 16th. Iwai’s journey to this point included an impressive third-round score of 64, followed by a 69 in the final round. She ended up losing out by one stroke, finishing at 20 under. Inconveniently, she had one of the toughest final holes in the world. After driving into the hay, she hit an excellent 9-iron approach that settled just short of the pin, rolling off the back edge of the green.
There were a few other memorable performances to stand out from the tournament. Two-time defending champion at Wilshire, Hannah Green, closed with a 67 to finish T9 at 16 under. Nasa Hataoka drew attention with a stunning 63, which brought her home in a tie for 19th at 18 under. Third — Lauren Coughlin and Esther Henseleit entered the picture in joint-third at 19 under with Miyu Yamashita.
The tournament was hugely popular. As the final event of the tour’s short West Coast run before heading into the big international competitions, it was an exhilarating event. That all changes with the next big one, which launches Thursday outside of Houston at The Woodlands. Whoever wins will take home one of the most coveted titles in the world!
Leave a Reply